Crikey, Spikey

LAST time we spoke, in May last year, the screening of the second series of Phoenix Nights seemed a long way off.

Yeah, they actually brought it forward in the end, I think maybe because Peter's adverts proved so popular. I'm only guessing but I think it might have been because he had reached a wider audience and everyone was talking about him.

Were you chuffed with how the series went?

I was thrilled to bits. Because it was the third series the two of us had written, we knew it was really good. But then it's on Channel 4 and you think "will anybody watch it?" But the time delay between the first and second series actually worked in our favour, because there was an undercurrent of people who were really expectant. So that when it came on, well over a year later, people seemed to be really ready for it. Also because of Peter's wide appeal it attracted more people and just snowballed after that.

What's been happening since then?

Well, Peter started planning his tour so all the writing was put on hold. I carried on with a project which I was writing with Peter when we first met. We'd only briefly outlined it and I put a few ideas down on paper. It's a comedy drama called Dead Man Weds.

Dead Man what?

Dead Man Weds. It's a headline I actually saw in the Bolton Evening News years ago. I was driving down a road in Farnworth and I saw a headline on a news stand that said Dead Man Weds. I bought the paper and he wasn't actually dead, he'd been electrocuted or something and the paramedics had brought him back, then six months later he got married. But I just thought it was really funny; Dead Man Weds. Like "Is that wedding going on next week? 'Oh, he's dead. Well it doesn't matter, if we've paid for the reception we've paid for it; he's going!"

So I had this idea about a writer for a small newspaper office, not like Bolton, a much smaller place, a really rural area where they get stuff wrong every week. And the crux is that a real story happens every week but somehow they contrive to miss it 'cos they're basically hopeless and too busy getting a picture of the mayor with a big cheque. I've got a few people interested in it, so I'm just waiting to see what happens. And of course Peter is doing the Max and Paddy thing. And I've got my tour staring in February.

Are you looking forward to the tour?

Yeah. I love stand up but this is the first time in my life that people have paid good money to come and see me. I've always been part of a show, at The Comedy Store or Jongleurs, but people are actually coming to see me. It's a whole new game 'cos you think its going to be great but there's a kind of expectation. You start to have these weird feelings of self doubt; am I going to do a good show or not? But I know it will be fine.

It's selling out fast, isn't it?

Yeah, I've had to put more dates on. They're not on the same scale as Peter's gigs, but I wanted to start it quite small. I'd rather play a packed smaller venue than a half full house. I'm going to do this one and if it goes really well we have a plan to do another maybe in October where I can maybe get into bigger venues.

Is this sudden recognition strange?

It's the Phoenix Nights phenomenon! I'll go in Asda and people are asking "where's the black bin bags, mate?" The one I don't like is when I'm walking down the street and people shout "it's Jerry the Berry!"

Are your fans a bit bonkers?

Well, I popped into the Phoenix Nights convention at the club recently and I couldn't get away. There were people dressed as Brian Potter and young Kenny. It's very flattering that they love it that much it becomes part of their lives. I got an e-mail from New York, from an American girl who loves it! How mad is that? That people are laughing about it in New York! But, then, my theory has always been that if you write good comedy that's based on characters it's not particular to where you are.

Have you any ambitions to do straight acting?

I've done some, actually! You know the series on Channel 4 called Buried, a really gritty prison drama? Well I'm in that! And so is Neil Fitzmaurice, who plays Ray Von. Neither of us knew the other was going for it; the director made us improvise and he picked out me and Neil, not knowing that we knew each other! We had this mad improvisational session and Neil got the prison governor's job out of it and I'm a prisoner.

You must be getting more confident in your acting abilities?

Well, yeah, I got nominated for Best Newcomer at the comedy awards, which was a laugh. But that was for acting, so I am a newcomer in that respect. I also have a little bit in Clocking Off. I call it a cameo; you might call it very small! I'm a taxi driver, I have about four lines! But its great - I just want to get used to this acting lark. Only my agent keeps telling me to stop calling it "this acting lark". It upsets people. It's a serious profession!

Would you like to do another Phoenix Nights?

Oh I'd love to. I think everybody wants another series. Everywhere I go people are saying not "will there?" but "there has to be!" But it's up to Peter really, he's the boss; he's the star, so it's whatever he decides. When Max and Paddy come to the end of their run, one of the options is they come back to the Phoenix, maybe for a big Christmas special or another series. But I'll wait and see what happens; a lot of things can change, can't they?

Dave Spikey's nationwide tour begins February 1.